Pigeon Talk

[WVduckchick]

Love is in the air.....

Babies hatching out everywhere. And broodies already in full swing.

I’m sitting outside watching my ducklings play in the mud. It’s getting cold though.
Duck clutches.... I think the most I’ve had a duck hen hatch was 13. That was a call duck. My Swedish duck had 17 eggs once, but I cut her down to 12. I think 10 hatched. They usually hatch a high percentage of fertile eggs, surprises me since it takes sooooo long. Lol

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

Love is in the air.....

Babies hatching out everywhere. And broodies already in full swing.

I’m sitting outside watching my ducklings play in the mud. It’s getting cold though.
Duck clutches.... I think the most I’ve had a duck hen hatch was 13. That was a call duck. My Swedish duck had 17 eggs once, but I cut her down to 12. I think 10 hatched. They usually hatch a high percentage of fertile eggs, surprises me since it takes sooooo long. Lol

So 10s a good clutch for a first time broody then...

 

[WVduckchick]

So 10s a good clutch for a first time broody then...

I think so. It sure was a great job by her! We know how difficult they can be to incubate, so kudos to her! Especially for her first time!

 

[Serin]

Canary update: Lyric and Mozart have four eggs as of today and she is now incubating. Most stop at four, but we might get one more.

Actually, looking at the photo, I would expect one more. The last egg in a canary clutch is normally a darker blue than the rest and I don't see that yet!

 

[WVduckchick]

Canary update: Lyric and Mozart have four eggs as of today and she is now incubating. Most stop at four, but we might get one more.

View attachment 1715548 View attachment 1715549

So sweet. What is their incubation period? A couple weeks?

 

[Serin]

So sweet. What is their incubation period? A couple weeks?

13 days!

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

I think so. It sure was a great job by her! We know how difficult they can be to incubate, so kudos to her! Especially for her first time!

Im deffinetly happy with how well she's done. She even took them into the barn to a dry, draft free corner just before dark and covered them all completely..

Canary update: Lyric and Mozart have four eggs as of today and she is now incubating. Most stop at four, but we might get one more.

Actually, looking at the photo, I would expect one more. The last egg in a canary clutch is normally a darker blue than the rest and I don't see that yet!

View attachment 1715548 View attachment 1715549

Awww... I agree with WV.. so sweet!

13 days!

 

[WVduckchick]

13 days!

That’s quick! Are they good parents? Do they feed their young like pigeons do?

 

[Serin]

That’s quick! Are they good parents? Do they feed their young like pigeons do?

Yes, the chicks hatch out similarly defenseless, blind, deaf and with just a little bit of fuzz. The mother feeds them for the first two weeks, while the father feeds the mom in turn so she doesn't have to leave the nest. The babies start hopping out of the nest at two weeks, and the dad takes over until they are weaned at one month of age, though if the father is not around or is not a good parent the mother will wean them.

 

[Fields Mountain Farm]

Yes, the chicks hatch out similarly defenseless, blind, deaf and with just a little bit of fuzz. The mother feeds them for the first two weeks, while the father feeds the mom in turn so she doesn't have to leave the nest. The babies start hopping out of the nest at two weeks, and the dad takes over until they are weaned at one month of age, though if the father is not around or is not a good parent the mother will wean them.

That's really interesting.. I hope you'll keep us posted on how they do. Id love to see pics of the littles when they hatch..